September Church News

September Church News

Monroe First Congregational Holiness Church

1113 South Broad Street

Monroe, Georgia 30655

Pastor Greg Baldwin

Sunday School 10:00, Sunday Worship Service 11:00 & 6:00,

Tuesday Worship Service 7:30

Follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/monroechchurch

Welcome

Thank you for being here to join us in worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth. We long to give Him a sacrifice of praise today. Our goal is to be a body of believers, uniting in truth. If you don’t already have a home church, we would love to have you with us each week. Along with our mid-week service on Tuesdays, we also have small groups on Tuesdays. We are certain that we have something suited for you.

Weekly Sunday School Trivia Questions

August 28^th~Who led a rebellion against the authority of Moses and the ground swallowed him up?

September 4^th~The gift of the Holy Spirit that was given in Acts 2 was spoken by which prophet of the Old Testament?

September 11^th~Who did Ruth marry after her first husband died?

September 18^th~What sign did God give to Hezekiah so he would know that God would add fifteen years to his life?

Prayer Requests

In your prayer time this week, please remember:

Dee Cordle, Melissa Christian, Tony Howard, Shane Charles, Brandon Keene and Jonathon Carter (deployed soldiers), Gary Butler, Bro Billy Autry, Amber Kinkaid, Sherman and Joy Baldwin, Robert and Glenna Deel, Gene McCullough, Eva and Delano Casper, Lisa Perry, Scott Williams, Judy Daniel, David Pac, Sandra Phillips, Betty Hicks, LeWanda Ramey, Curtis McDougal.

Words for Life

I was thinking about the Youth Service that we had at the beginning of August. As we were preparing for it, I knew that it would be a completely different type of service than what we are used to. But, then, I thought maybe that’s what worship is all about. I was reminded of David. Psalm 40:3 NLT says, “He gave me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” You know, I love Mexican food. At times, I feel like I could eat it for every meal. But, I know that no matter how good it is, after several meals, it would become mundane. Maybe God longs to hear a fresh song from you-for you to forget about the “old” way of doing things. Begin anew. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Our spirit cannot thrive on past blessings. Bless God in a new way and see what new thing He has in store for you.

Nursery Guidelines

The nursery is staffed by one adult and one young adult and will be available during the sermon portion of the service.

Announcements

§  Remember to check the projection for this month’s announcements. It will include information about Family Night, Brotherhood Meeting, WM’s Meeting, Nursing Home Ministry, and other upcoming events.

§  September 1 – Brotherhood meeting

§  September 3 – Yard Sale at Monroe CH

§  September 4 – No evening service (Labor Day Weekend)

§  September 19 – WMs

§  September 23-24 – WMs Retreat at Union Grove Campground

§  September 30 – Dinner & a Movie at Monroe CH

September Birthdays

Vicki Stewart~September 1^st

Leah Cyphers~September 10^th

Denise Parish~September 14^th

Allene Farmer September 17^th

Carolyn Driver~September 22^nd

Chris Chancey~September 25^th

Are you cheating yourself?

At church yesterday morning, I sang a song called “Your Cries Have Awoken the Master” written by Sonya Isaacs and Becky Isaacs Bowman. I’ll type the lyrics. (If you know the song, feel free to skip this.)

Crossing the calm sea with Jesus, the disciples were getting concerned

The wind started violently blowing, and He was asleep in the stern

Does He not care that we perish, we’re helpless & we’re so afraid

But, Jesus arose when they called Him, and said to them where is your faith

You’ve prayed all night, You’ve held on with all of your might

Child, your cries have awoken the Master

Oh, He knows your voice, lift your hands, it’s time to rejoice

Child, your cries have awoken the Master

It hit you without any warning, the storm of your life had begun

Seeing no hope in the distance, you’re so frightened with no place to run

By now your vessel is filling, and you’re thinking that you’ll surely drown

You’ve cried out for help from the Savior, so you know you can’t give up now

You’re up there worried that He’s fast asleep

The winds are so deadly, the water’s so deep

By try to be patient because soon He’ll bring peace

Just one word from His voice and it all must cease

It is hard to imagine what the disciples were feeling. But, it seems as if, even with Jesus very nearby, they didn’t know when to trust that everything was in good hands. How often do we cheat ourselves out of peace because we try to figure everything out on our own? Just the other day, I was given a gentle reminder that I don’t have to know how everything is going to work out-I just have to know that it will. Occasionally, maybe you feel like your drowning in your own storm. But, do you really think that God will let you drown? No! He’s right there with you. He hears the cries of your heart, and He knows your voice. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand.”

Are You Scared?

Today, I just wanted to share one of my favorite quotes. It is from Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Kinda makes me wonder, do I help liberate others to glorify God? Are you ready to get past your fears and reach the dreams that God longs for you to fulfill?

Don't be Debbie Downer

As I was reading my Bible the other day, I read Exodus 17:8-13. In these verses, the Israelites are in a battle against the Amalekites. Moses told Joshua to choose some men to fight, and Moses went to the top of the hill and held his arms up to the Lord. As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites were winning. But, whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. Thankfully, Moses did not go to the top of the hill alone. Hur and Aaron went with him. When Moses began to tire, they got a stone for Moses to sit on, and they held his hands up. One stood on one side of Moses; the other stood on the other side. They held up his hands until sunset, and the Israelites won the battle. This scripture really grabbed my attention. What would have happened if Hur and Aaron had not gone with Moses? Or what if they grumbled and complained because Moses’ arms were tired? How often have we seen someone facing battles and instead of holding up their arms, we think that they should be able to overcome their own battles? It is so important that we lift each other up. Moses continued to do his part by keeping his arms raised. And, we still have to do our own part of fighting. But, when we see someone struggling, let’s reach out instead of assuming that they want to fight alone. There is power in just a few words of encouragement. Have a happy weekend!

August Church News

August Church News

Monroe First Congregational Holiness Church

1113 South Broad Street

Monroe, Georgia 30655

Pastor Greg Baldwin

Sunday School 10:00, Sunday Worship Service 11:00 & 6:00,

Tuesday Worship Service 7:30

Follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/monroechchurch

Welcome

Here at Monroe CH Church, we are a family of believers. We want to capture the hearts of every generation and join together in pressing “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Visitors, thank you for joining us to magnify and worship the Lord today. If you don’t already have a home church, we would love to have you with us each week. Along with our mid-week service on Tuesdays, we also have small groups on Tuesdays. We are certain that we have something suited for you.

Weekly Sunday School Trivia Questions

July 31^st~How many times did Paul ask God to remove his “thorn in the flesh?”

August 7^th~At Jesus’ last Passover meal, what did the disciples argue about?

August 14^th~From what city did Paul escape by being let down from a window in a basket?

August 21^st ~Paul received from the Jews how many stripes five times?

Words for Life

“To get something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” The author of that quote is unknown. A friend of mine wrote the following on facebook: “When God takes something from your grasp, He isn’t punishing you but merely opening your hands to receive something better.” A few months ago, I was talking to Mom about things to do for church growth. Sometimes changing from the norm is uncomfortable. But, we need to be open to the Lord using us in new ways. Looking through the Bible, I’ve noticed that God moves people out of their comfort zones to use them for His glory. Think about Abraham. God told Abraham to take his only son Isaac to be sacrificed. Abraham obeyed God, and God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. Remember Jonah? God sent him to Ninevah. We can certainly see that Jonah was not thrilled about going. At first, he did not go. But, when he went and prophesied to the people of Ninevah, they repented, and God saved the city. Perhaps a new job is bringing about openings that you previously had not considered. Or, maybe you feel a calling in a ministry that you have not given thought to before. Be in prayer and be open to God calling you out of your comfort zone to bring great change in your life and our church.

Prayer Requests

In your prayer time this week, please remember:

Dee Cordle, Melissa Christian, Tony Howard, Shane Charles, Brandon Keene and Jonathon Carter (deployed soldiers), Gary Butler, Bro Billy Autry, Sherman and Joy Baldwin, Robert and Glenna Deel, Gene McCullough, Eva and Delano Casper and Martha Brand, Lisa Perry, Jill Thornton & Scott Williams.

           

August Birthdays

Sammy Slaton~August 3^rd

Kenneth Farmer~August 11^th

Kenny Simpson~August 19^th  

Michelle Lazenby & Jonathan Ruff~August 21^st  

Richard Wellborn~August 31^st

Wait

I first began typing devotion-type segments in the church bulletin about a year and a half ago. Since I've started this blog, I'll share some of the ones that I've used in previous bulletins with you here. I'll also continue to add the new ones. I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave comments.

As I began to ponder what to share with you today, I was reminded of a testimony that I heard from my Mom at church about five or six years ago. She spoke of the word “wait.” The definition, according to Webster’s online dictionary is: to remain stationary in anticipation of something or to look forward expectantly. Then, the Scripture from Isaiah 40:31 came to mind: They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Also, a passage found in Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart…”

Often times, I don’t think of “waiting” as a stage preparation. But, when I’m hungry and waiting to go to dinner, I don’t put off getting ready until we’re about to walk out of the door. Instead, while I’m waiting, I prepare myself by choosing the right outfit, fixing my hair, etc. Accordingly, when we wait upon the Lord to move in our lives, we should be prepared and expecting something-not because He has already moved just like we want Him to, but because we know He’s on the way. 

Youth Service~August 2nd, 2011

Each month, I write a Church Newsletter that includes what I call "Words for Life." I've decided to create a blog. My goal is to upload what I write for the Church News in a blog, and maybe I'll do some blogging in between also.
For tonight, I did a special one for the youth service. So, I'll share it here.

Back to School Youth Bash

August 2^nd, 2011

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT

So Happy You’re Here

Thank you for joining us to magnify and worship the Lord for this special service. Here at Monroe CH Church, we are a family of believers. We want to capture the hearts of every generation and join together in pressing “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). If you don’t already have a home church, we would love to have you with us each week. Along with our mid-week service on Tuesdays, we also have small groups on Tuesdays. We are certain that we have something suited for you. Also, follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/monroechchurch.

Encouraging Scriptures

When you don’t know which way to turn: Psalm 32:8 ”The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

When people let you down: Proverbs 3:5-6 ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

When sadness knocks on your heart: I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ”Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

When you feel like the world is against you: Romans 8:31 ”If God is for us, who can be against us?”

When you feel alone: Joshua 1:9 ”Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Words for Life

The verse that I quoted as the heading, 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT, has been one of my favorites for a long time, especially when I was a teenager. Young people sometimes get a bad rap. You can find statistics that say “teenage pregnancy is on the rise,” or “the number of high school dropouts is the highest it has been in 20 years.” Sometimes those reproachful headlines really hurt. Don’t you want to scream, “Not all teenagers are like that!” There are some positive headlines out there too; they’re just not as abundant as the bad ones. But don’t be discouraged by that. You are not alone in your walk with Christ. According to a poll by the Barna Group, teenagers are the most spiritually active demographic in America. Also, 78% of young adults claim to be Christians. Tough situations will happen. Peer pressure will show its ugly head. So, be sure that you have a circle of friends who are believers also. Live your daily life so that you are a good example of a Christian. As you return to school, think about your purpose for being exactly where you are. Psalm 37:23 NLT says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Pray for God to use you as a witness. Maybe you think that evangelism isn’t your calling. But, the strongest tool you have as a Christian is your daily life. You don’t know what the person sitting beside you in your English class (or at work) is going through. You are there for a reason.

Special Thanks

Thanks so much to everyone who had a hand in making this night possible. Tina Baldwin- for coming up with such a great idea and making sure it came to fruition; John Belangia and New Haven youth-for taking the time and putting forth the effort to be a part of this service; Kisha Michael, Lisa and Leslie Pearson, Jo Tew,  and all the drama team members-for the hours of practice and patience to get the reunited drama team back on track; Denise Parish and Rachel Cobb-for their work with Children’s Church; and, everyone who donated door prizes and/or food for tonight. Many, many thanks to each of you for giving of your hearts. You may never know how much you’ve changed hearts and lives.